Saturday: Afternoon Prayer

ABOUT TODAY

We are currently in the season of Lent, which is the traditional 40 days of prayer, fasting, reflection and repentance that precedes the great Easter celebrations. Just as Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness learning to overcome the Enemy, so we set this time aside for spiritual warfare and renewal. It is common during this time to imitate the simplicity of Jesus in the wilderness by abstaining from rich foods and strong drink during this season, and to devote extra time to the practice of the spiritual disciplines. The daily intercessions throughout the entire Lenten season reflect this focus, and drill deeply into our selfish attitudes and sinful actions.

CALL TO WORSHIP

Reader:
God, come to my assistance.All:Lord, make haste to help me.

Reader:Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. All:As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen

AFTERNOON PSALM

Psalm 119:57-64

ח Heth

You are my portion, O Lord;I have said that I would keep Your words.I entreated Your favor with my whole heart;Be merciful to me according to Your word.I thought about my ways,And turned my feet to Your testimonies.I made haste, and did not delayTo keep Your commandments.The cords of the wicked have bound me,But I have not forgotten Your law.At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You,Because of Your righteous judgments.I am a companion of all who fear You,And of those who keep Your precepts.The earth, O Lord, is full of Your mercy;Teach me Your statutes.

All:Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen

WORSHIP (Optional)

All:
(A short time of worship and thanksgiving, led or spontaneous. Alternatively a devotional song may be played and listened to.)

OLD TESTAMENT READING

Hosea 10:1-15

Israel is a luxuriant vinethat yields its fruit.The more his fruit increased,the more altars he built;as his country improved,he improved his pillars.Their heart is false;now they must bear their guilt.The Lord will break down their altarsand destroy their pillars.For now they will say:“We have no king,for we do not fear the Lord;and a king—what could he do for us?”They utter mere words;with empty oaths they make covenants;so judgement springs up like poisonous weedsin the furrows of the field.The inhabitants of Samaria tremblefor the calf of Beth-aven.Its people mourn for it, and so do its idolatrous priests—those who rejoiced over it and over its glory—for it has departed from them.The thing itself shall be carried to Assyriaas tribute to the great king.Ephraim shall be put to shame,and Israel shall be ashamed of his idol.Samaria’s king shall perishlike a twig on the face of the waters.The high places of Aven, the sin of Israel,shall be destroyed.Thorn and thistle shall grow upon their altars,and they shall say to the mountains, “Cover us,”and to the hills, “Fall on us.”From the days of Gibeah, you have sinned, O Israel;there they have continued.Shall not the war against the unjust overtake them in Gibeah?When I please, I will discipline them,and nations shall be gathered against themwhen they are bound up for their double iniquity.Ephraim was a trained calfthat loved to thresh,and I spared her fair neck;but I will put Ephraim to the yoke;Judah must plough;Jacob must harrow for himself.Sow for yourselves righteousness;reap steadfast love;break up your fallow ground,for it is the time to seek the Lord,that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.You have ploughed iniquity;you have reaped injustice;you have eaten the fruit of lies.Because you have trusted in your own wayand in the multitude of your warriors,therefore the tumult of war shall arise among your people,and all your fortresses shall be destroyed,as Shalman destroyed Beth-arbel on the day of battle;mothers were dashed in pieces with their children.Thus it shall be done to you, O Bethel,because of your great evil.At dawn the king of Israelshall be utterly cut off.

Reader:The Word of the Lord.All: Thanks be to God.

Pause for Reflection……

PRAYER

(Take a moment to bring to God any issues that have arisen during the morning. You may like to end with the following prayer…)

Reader:

Lord Jesus we thank you for the many blessings of this day,
Give us eyes to see the path ahead,
And faith to reach towards the prize. Amen

GRACE (Optional)

(If these prayers are taking place before food, you may like to say the Grace here instead.)

Lord God, we thank you for your gift to us of this food;
Produce of earth, sky, many living beings, and much hard work.

May we eat with prayerfulness, gratitude and moderation;
With renewed minds and spirit-controlled appetites.

May we eat with compassion for those who hunger today,
And in such a way that reduces the suffering of all creatures;
Healing and preserving our precious planet.

Use this food to strengthen our bodies, revive our spirits,
Nurture our family and nourish our resolve;
That we may continue to serve all that lives with all our life. Amen